Urban Studies
Urban studies is the analysis of cities, the people who live in them, how they function and how they are governed. In some fields, such as education, healthcare and law, urban areas present issues that don’t exist in rural or suburban communities. The majority of the world’s population now lives in cities. It is essential that there are urban studies problem-solvers who understand cities’ distinct challenges.
Christian Hughes ’14After living in the Bronx and utilizing the subway system on a daily basis, I became more and more fascinated by the workings of the city and the policies and planning that make a town or city function — either for good or bad. I did a research project on the redevelopment and reuse of previously industrial sites in Pittsburgh. The paper sharpened my skills in research, and gave me a taste for the urban renaissances taking place beyond our immediate region.